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Site Conditions?

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Exposure?

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Water Requirements?

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Well Drained Soil?

Plant prefers well-drained soil. Learn more.

Salt Tolerant?

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Elevation?

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Landscaping Attributes?

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Plant Form?

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Landscape Uses?

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Plant Height?

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Plant Width?

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Flower Color?

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Good For Novices??

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Spreader??

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Degree of Spread?

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Short Lived??

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Pruning Needs?

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Availability?

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Additional Criteria

Ethnobotany Uses?

How the Ancient Hawaiians used the plant: food, tools, shelter, canoes, medicine, spiritual, crafts, lei, ornamental, and/or fire.

Plants' Presence by Island?

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Valued by Birds?

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Valued by Bees??

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Federal Status?

The federal status of the plant (Endangered, Threatened, or Not listed) based on the US Fish and Wildlife Services Environmental Conservation Online System as of 6/26/2024. Also see "Population Status" designations (PEPP, SWAP). Learn more.

Population Status?

Protection status for the plant under Federal and Hawai'I state laws. Learn more.

Origin?

The native status of the plant in Hawaiʻi: Indigenous (found natively throughout Hawaiʻi), Endemic (found natively in specific areas), or Canoe (brought to Hawaiʻi by Ancient Hawaiians from other places in Polynesia). Learn more.

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    ʻAhuʻawa

    Attractive seed heads and bluish green foliage. Flood tolerant, good for erosion control and restoration. Native waterfowl use for food and nesting. Note: blades are sharp.

    Scientific NameCyperus javanicus
    Federal Status?

    The federal status of the plant (Endangered, Threatened, or Not listed) based on the US Fish and Wildlife Services Environmental Conservation Online System as of 6/26/2024. Also see "Population Status" designations (PEPP, SWAP). Learn more.

    None
    Common Name?

    The Hawaiian name(s) or other common name(s) of the plant.

    ʻAhuʻawa
    Family?

    The taxonomic family for the plant.

    Cyperaceae
    Other Common Names?

    Other names the plant may be called.

    Javanese flatsedge

    Does your site's environmental conditions meet this plant's needs?

    Climate Zones?

    The climate zones where this plant grows best. Learn more.

    Coastal Arid
    ✔
    Coastal Dry
    ✔
    Coastal Mesic
    ✔
    Coastal Wet
    ✔
    Inland Arid
    ✖
    Inland Dry
    ✔
    Inland Mesic
    ✔
    Inland Wet
    ✖
    Salt Tolerant?

    Salt tolerance is variable. If your site is right on the coast with direct salt spray, do some additional research to determine its tolerance. Learn more.

    Yes
    Preferred Elevation?

    If the plant grows better above or below 2,000' in elevation. Learn more.

    No preference
    Exposure?

    Select what best represents the amount of sunlight at the planting site.

    Full Sun
    ✔
    Partial Sun
    ✔
    Shade
    ✖
    Water Requirements?

    The amount of water the plant needs: 1 is lowest, 5 is highest. Learn more.

    2-4
    Well Drained Soil?

    Plant prefers well-drained soil. Learn more.

    No

    Does this plant meet your landscaping needs?

    Plant Form?

    The plant's growth form.

    Sedge/Rush
    Height?

    The range of height of a fully-grown plant, in feet.

    1.3-3.6'
    Width?

    The range of width of a fully-grown plant, in feet.

    2'
    Landscape Uses?

    Select the landscape design role you are looking for. Learn more.

    Accent, Containers, Ground Cover, Water Feature
    Flower Colors?

    Select a flower color or other attractive feature to filter for those plants. Learn more.

    White, Yellow, Other, Decorative Seed Heads
    Has decorative seeds and blueish green leaves.

    Does this plant have the personality you're looking for?

    Availability?

    How easy it is to find the plant. Learn more.

    Variable
    Good for Novices??

    Select options below to match your gardening experience. Learn more.

    Average
    Long-lived??

    Whether or not the plant is short-lived. Learn more.

    No
    Degree of Spread?

    If the plant spreads, how evenly. Learn more.

    Variable
    Pruning Needs?

    If the plant needs pruning or not. Learn more.

    May need regular

    Seed heads look beautiful in flower arrangements and pruning them will prolong the life of the plants.

    Does this plant provide the ecosystem and/or ethnotobanical benefits you're looking for?

    Also used for cordage, and the fibers were made into brushes to paint color onto tapa (kapa). Also used for straining awa (kava).

    Ethnobotany Uses?

    How the Ancient Hawaiians used the plant: food, tools, shelter, canoes, medicine, spiritual, crafts, lei, ornamental, and/or fire.

    Crafts, Lei, Medicine, Tools
    Islands?

    Not all native plants, birds occur on all islands. Select to show only what naturally occurs on your island. Learn more.

    Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, Maui, Hawaiʻi
    Population Status?

    Protection status for the plant under Federal and Hawai'I state laws. Learn more.

    None
    Origin?

    The native status of the plant in Hawaiʻi: Indigenous (found natively throughout Hawaiʻi), Endemic (found natively in specific areas), or Canoe (brought to Hawaiʻi by Ancient Hawaiians from other places in Polynesia). Learn more.

    Indigenous

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